The Valley

FOR NINE YEARS my parents loaded-up their vehicle about the third week of October, and headed south until about the second week of April. It was a period of approximately five and a half months. They traveled more than a thousand miles from their home in mid-Missouri to a winter home in The Valley - the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. They became "snowbirds" who delighted in escaping the harsh winters which were so prevalent in the Midwest. For them, and for many others like them, The Valley was an ideal leisure destination for an extended period of time.
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Harlingen was the location of choice for mom and dad's first winter in The Valley. The next eight winters they spent in Weslaco. In each of the nine years, my folks found good places to stay in attractive mobile home parks. And, it seemed as though their housing accommodations were better every year.

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During each of those nine years, my wife and I were able to make a trip to The Valley for a visit. At that time both of us were still full-time professionals working in higher education. However, it was not too difficult to find enough days for the journey south - either at Thanksgiving break, Christmas - New Year's break, or spring break.
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Because of our annual visits, we came to more fully understand why my parents enjoyed spending their winters in The Valley so much. Instead of mostly cold, cloudy, and wintry days, they were often in short sleeves sipping iced tea under palm trees. Instead of looking at brown leaves and dead flowers, they were looking at colorful blossoms and green plants as they put on sun screen and ate fresh oranges or grapefruit. The Valley truly became my parents second home: they had friends; they found a good church; they had places to go; and they had many things to do to keep them busy.

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My wife and I were thrilled that mom and dad wanted to spend their winters in the south. Not only did it give us a great spot for a short vacation, but much more important was what it did for them. Dad never had to shovel snow during those nine years. Neither of them had to worry about falling on ice-covered sidewalks or streets. And, perhaps best of all, it kept them young - young at heart and young in spirit!

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Our time in The Valley with my folks was always one of the highlights of the year for us. We visited, we played games, we found great places to eat, we met their friends, and we became very familiar with their winter communities. Sightseeing gave us the opportunity to experience the surrounding areas which provided an added plus to our visits. We traveled the length of the lower Valley more than once, and explored many places of interest. Some of these places included McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, Rio Grande City, Mission, San Benito, Mercedes, Pharr, Port Isabel, and South Padre Island.

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There were a couple of highlights for us. First, the Mexican city of Nuevo Progreso was only four miles from my parents home in Weslaco. We crossed the border on most every Valley vacation and enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, and the shopping! Another highlight was visiting the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park near Mission. A couple of special delights for us always included ice cream at Hygeia Dairy and pastries at Shipley Do-nuts. In addition, going to South Padre Island was a totally enjoyable pleasure on every one of our journeys to The Valley.

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My parents had wonderful long-term leisure experiences in south Texas. During our first or second visit there, my wife and I made a decision concerning the future. We too - in our own retirement - were going to try-out the idea of spending our winters in a warmer climate. And, there's no doubt whatsoever, the biggest factor in bringing us to that conclusion was the time we spent in The Valley!

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-- Port Isabel, Texas - the gateway to South Padre Island - is shown in the photo above.

Montauk

AT THE EASTERN-MOST BORDER of the State of New York, and thus the eastern tip of the South Fork of Long Island, is Montauk Point State Park. It is a heavily wooded area which includes trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or just watching seals sun themselves on offshore rocks. It provides opportunities for some of the best surf fishing in the world, taking a stroll on twisting pathways, or simply observing nature. And, it has picnic areas, a playground, and bridle paths. However, the most striking feature of the Park is the Montauk Point Lighthouse. From there visitors can easily see the converging waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island Sound. The entire Park is a place of astonishing beauty, and it is a great choice as a leisure destination.
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The Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. It is located 123 miles from Manhattan via Route 27 East. The highway takes travelers directly to the Park entrance. It's possible to fly into Long Island Macarthur Airport at Islip, then travel by automobile on to the Park. This option cuts the road miles approximately in half.
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On the way to Montauk Point State Park, visitors will pass through the village of Montauk. It is a thriving little town with interesting shops, great places to eat, and sights to see - all well worth a stopover. Both the Park and the village of Montauk are located in Suffolk County. The overall area offers miles of unspoiled ocean beaches, five state parks, a county park, and several town parks and nature preserves. Possibilities for lodging go from small motels to large resorts. Just a few miles before arriving at the village from the west, there's a short section of Old Highway 27 which veers off on a scenic route hugging the southern coast of the South Fork. This alternate route offers spectacular views of the Atlantic, and it merges back with the new highway at the Montauk city limits. Opportunities for dining and lodging close to the ocean also make the old highway attractive to visitors. Our family always chooses this alternate route - at least on our trip east as we travel toward the village and the Park.

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The Montauk Point Lighthouse is a historic landmark. It has been a part of Long Island's landscape and seascape for over 200 years, and it is still an active aid to navigation. The Lighthouse was authorized by the 2nd U.S. Congress in 1792 under George Washington. It was opened November 5, 1796 and is the oldest lighthouse in the state of New York.
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On trips to see our son, my wife and I have visited Montauk several times over the years. It is one of our favorite places to go every time we journey to Long Island. We especially have enjoyed the Montauk Point Lighthouse. At it's base, a grassy knoll provides adequate space to sit, relax, and to take pictures. From this vantage point, the water can best be seen sweeping around the Point on three sides. It's here that the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island are visible off in the distance. A statue stands nearby which honors men and women lost at sea over the many past decades. Also, a magnificent museum helps visitors understand the history of the site and the surrounding area. Walking the many steps to the top of the Lighthouse provides climbers an extra reward. And, what a view it is!
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It's possible to get refreshments or a light meal at the Park. Or, food could be brought in and enjoyed at one of the Park's picnic tables. A better alternative might be to eat in the village of Montauk at one of the several cafes or restaurants. Our family has always chosen this third option.
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We've eaten in the heart of the small downtown; we've dined overlooking a small lake called Fort Pond; and, we've had the "catch of the day" as we enjoyed outside tables near a string of fishing boats just returned from open waters with fresh seafood at Gosman's Dock. All of our meals have been excellent.
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For our family, to simply say that we had a good time on our many trips to Montauk would be a gross understatement. In fact, we have received enormous pleasure every time we have visited the village, the Park, or the Lighthouse. And, hopefully, the fact that we have returned over and over again provides persuasive evidence that Montauk is indeed worthy of consideration as a unique leisure destination.

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-- The Montauk Point Lighthouse is pictured above.